Research has underpinned the significant development of aquaculture over the last three decades and Europe has been a leader. European research has focused primarily on the validation of new species production; breeding, nutrition and health management. In recent years, it has become more multi-disciplinary and has been driven more by the needs of the sector.

As aquaculture continues to develop, the research will undergo fundamental change. Current technologies have potentially reached their limits and we now need re-thinking. Nanotechnology, biotechnology, molecular biology, informatics and cybernetics all find their role in contributing to the research agenda.

Aquaculture Europe 2009 will address this challenge and will provide an international forum to discuss latest research initiatives and new research frontiers. Aquaculture Europe 2009 will take place just before the world's leading aquaculture exhibition, Aqua Nor, where many new research approaches are already starting to find industrial applications.